Is city complicit in Fourth of July parade constitutional violations?

Most of us in Homer recognize that the nonprofit organization that administered our July 4th parade acted in ways that violated our U.S. and Alaska Constitutional right of free speech. 

The nonprofit, acting under their own “rule” that prohibited political messages in the parade, allowed entry to three floats promoting the political campaigns of candidates from one political party while allegedly refusing to allow participation of a candidate from an opposing party. 

The nonprofit allowed signs on floats addressing the construction of a gas pipeline and initally allowed signs addressing a current ballot initiative which seeks to alter the way we Alaskans conduct our elections. Both of these issues are contentious current political issues. At the same time, the nonprofit refused to allow a banner declaring “No Kings,” which is the principle message of our United States Declaration of Independence and for which thousands of Americans have given their very lives. 

Today I urge the people of Homer to join me in asking if governmental action by the City of Homer made the City complicit in these constitutional violations. 

1. How much public money did the City of Homer give to the parade organizers to 

assist in these violations? their activities? 

2. Did the City of Homer authorize the closure of Pioneer Avenue, a public street, for 

the exclusive use of the parade? 

3. Who owned, placed and removed the orange safety cones that closed Pioneer 

Avenue for the event? 

4. Who provided and paid for the uniformed Homer Police Department officers and 

police vehicles which opened and closed the parade? 

5. Who was the Grand Marshal of the parade and did she appear as a private person or 

as the Mayor of Homer? 

Please join me in urging the City of Homer to give us prompt and clear answers to these questions. 

Doug Baily

Support Ballot Measure 1 on campaign finance limits

The League of Women Voters of Alaska is a nonpartisan organization. We don’t support or oppose candidates or parties, but we do take positions on issues after reaching consensus based on careful and extensive study.

We are supportive of Ballot Measure 1, which will be on Alaska’s primary election ballot, and restores campaign finance limits in Alaska. The initiative will allow individuals to compete more equitably for public office. It also closes the door to unlimited contributions from individuals, including those outside Alaska, and reduces the risk — and the appearance — of donors gaining undue influence over our elected officials.

In 2006, 73% of Alaskan voters approved similar contribution limits to keep large money from dominating the state’s elections. Some of Alaska’s prior campaign contribution limits were struck down in 2021 by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled they were too low and lacked an inflation adjustment component.

After the ruling, an individual could make unlimited contributions to candidates and groups, which meant the possibility of an unfair impact on a race’s outcome. Ballot Measure 1 puts guardrails and limitations on donations to in-state candidates.

It shifts the contribution limits under state law from an annual timeframe to an election cycle. This levels the playing field between incumbents and non-incumbents.

Ballot Measure 1 also includes a mechanism to periodically adjust the allowable contribution level, based on consumer inflation rates, to ensure contributions can fairly keep pace with inflation.

Ballot Measure 1 restores reasonable, common-sense limits that Alaskans have already shown they support, protects the integrity of our elections, and helps ensure that every-day Alaskans — not just the wealthiest donors — have a meaningful voice in choosing who represents us. The League of Women Voters of Alaska urges voters to support Ballot Measure 1 on the August 18 primary ballot.

Cathleen Rolph

League of Women Voters of the Kenai Peninsula